Red

Hearing for some reason Joshi is out of favour - anyone heard the same, or know if true or why, or just BS?? Strange if true considering so far no one has been outstanding at CB.

We should be trying very hard to lack Consistency - as in consistency in losing (or performing badly) - habits can build, both good and bad, and we have been in a bad one for 2+ years (for reasons much debated on here). Now we need something to break that cycle - freak performance, worldie goal, anything to break our bad run (luck?). Whatever happened to that white witch - maybe her spell needs topping up?

I was willing to give Hoedt a chance, but he really is going backwards - he was really poor yesterday. Why on earth are the coaching staff not improving him? Like Cedric but he gets done too easily for height at set pieces - needs a CB to cover him, but not always possible.

After a few deep breaths, I would say we are better than last season, need players to get fitter, 442 is so much better for the players we have currently, Hughes needs to figure out his first 11, and why on earth can we not start until the 2nd half?

Yes: 1. Gao pledges never to speak about why he invested in SFC - or for that matter anything to do with Saints ever! 2. Gao pledges to never invest any more of his personal money in SFC (assuming he invested any in the first place) 3. Kate pledges to carry on her father's wishes and remain our savior and only sell her remaining stake to move us even further on to the next step (not clear if this is up or down, and just in case has her fingers and toes double crossed - double crossed, now that might be a fitting tribute?) 4. Ralph pledges to continue as a useless windbag and fall guy for Gao 5. Gao and Board pledge to mug off/rip off/insult/lie to and generally abuse the fan base - cos it's club and we can do we like in'it bro oh BTW what happened to Gao's daughter - you know Kate's BFF??

Has someone been watching Shawshank Redemption perchance?

Agree

Do you know that for a fact? If not please don't state it as a fact. I don't know, and neither does anyone apart from the two respective clubs negotiators as to the exact contract terms. Would have expected better from a moderator than to scare monger, but given the sad state of this site these days, maybe not!

Thanks for the link. "Dave is a very old-school goalkeeping coach who just says to keep the ball out of the net" is very telling and shows IMHO why FF has turned to sh1t, when more modern coaches develop all aspects of the keeper and make them more of a "sweeper keeper". Just hope good 'ol Dave doesn't rub his magic on our two up and coming keepers!

No one other than the two clubs know for sure, so no point in endless speculation (not aimed at you in particular, rather a general comment). It is done now and in our club we need to trust and back, and hope they got it right.

Good God this is so so tire some now - you might not have liked Cortese, which is fair enough, but to say that as chairman he spent too much of someone else's money is just plain daft (trying very hard to remain polite here). That is what Chairman and CEO's are hired to do, and also only when fully approved by the broad. Cortese left (yes left and not sacked) because he and the new owner (Kat) did not agree on club strategy, and Kat was completely entitled to make the final call as it was her club at the time. To suggest Cortese somehow embezzled Kat's (or club's) money without approval is so far off the mark and I would suggest libelous.

It's about consistency as well - lots on here complaining about how we will not get any (or very little at best) loan fee and will have to subside most (seen up to 90%) of wages for players we have loaned out (or want to, FF etc.), so why would that not apply to us when we loan players from other clubs? How much did the last club Origi was loaned to pay Liverpool? Doubt it was much. Much better for Liverpool to try and grow an asset at another club if they are not part of their current plans. Targett is a perfect example for us - had he not been loaned to Fulham and done so well, they would not be offering £12M for him now.

Does McQueen have a right foot?

There was no recall option for Sam - season long loan. Whether we had an option to buy/pay for that clause in the contract I don't know, but would not have been cheap. We bought Carillo in sheer desperation to save our season, and in a strange way it did - i.e. allowed MP to buy a player he felt would save us (at an inflated price) and when that didn't work, board finally smelt the coffee and go rid and we stayed up. Was that worth £20M? Probably.

Same old sh1t spouted on here by same old select few

We had the chances to be clear by half time but did not/could not/desperately unlucky not to take them - bottom line we were good enough but failed to make it count, and eventually the experience and "game management" (hate the phrase but it's true in this case) of Croatia told. Good luck to them - they will need it against France. Kane, Allie and Young didn't show up today - shame (maybe not fully fit?). Had Sterling and Lingard shown a bit more composure, we could have still won. But hey ho, good run and proud of the lads and hope they grow stronger for the experience (and we get another favorable route :-)).

Have a read of this: https://www.examiner.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/how-much-football-transfer-actually-11819734

Don't think there was a buyout clause. In the past, if a player did not ask for a transfer then he got 10% of the transfer fee (confirmed by an ex player). So cannot see that would have changed now (and maybe even higher?). Add to that agents fee's etc. and not unreasonable to see 20% sliced off the headline figure. Plus, he may well be on a lesser wage at Ajax and so may have wanted a signing on bonus. Probably suits us as he would have been on a reasonably high wage which is now freed up, and if he wanted a move we do not want a repeat of the VVD debacle (although doubt Tadic would have kicked up a fuss). Timing may be unfortunate, but I think this is a good and honorable all round. Tad gave us some good times, and maybe burst a gut in the run in last term, as we agreed to his move if he gave his all? I liked him and sad to see him go, but all players move on eventually, and best to do so amicably. Wish him well and we move on.

No reason why they both cannot compete for top spot. He will have a much better chance with than MC

Sadly not with the usual bell ends on here with limited IQ and social lives. Mods are a disgrace - site is pits now, and I rarely visit it - no news just childish play.

Could have been ours had Rupee coughed up an extra £2M

Jesus wept - there are some ultra dramatics on here. Get a life - it's only football at the end of the day, and even then not Saints or Ingerrrland

Not if we have a reasonable sell on clause. If Bertie stays, Targett will not be a starter (don't really see Bertie as one of of back three if that is the formation we play), and he will get frustrated. We have enough in the squad to cover that position in case of injuries, and will be the ideal opportunity for McQueen to show if he is good enough. Take the money and use it to address more pressing positions - as long as they are starters and not squad fillers.

Whatever the merits of other players (Armstrong etc.) Wilshere is a quality proven PL player, who if fit would indeed be an amazing player for us. How anyone thinks he would not improve us is beyond me - but then that's just my take. On a free (yes sign on fee and wages etc.), against an untried newbie to PL for 24M in Maddison, it's a no brainer for me.

Agree. Should try and keep Alex on a reasonable contract extension if possible, but not at any cost. He deserves to be in the top 20 to 30% of high earners at Saints - but not top or miles better than top. He did a great job for the last 3rd of the season, but not outstanding. He did what an average PL keeper should do, and comparing him to FF does not make him a god! Let's face it - Alex has had a purple patch for about 2% of his entire career to date, so if someone wants to cough up 20 to 25 million for him, let him go I say. Tell FF he has 10 games to sort out his sh1t or he's off on a free transfer. Plenty of decent (not world beaters, but then neither is Alex) keepers in the lower leagues.